Man admits assaulting pregnant partner

A 23-year-old man who pushed on the stomach of his pregnant partner after she woke him could not offer an explanation, Invercargill District Court was told yesterday.

The man, who has interim name suppression, appeared before Judge Stephen O'Driscoll yesterday for assaulting a female on October 3. He was remanded to November 30 for sentence.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Glen McMurdo said the pair had two children and another on the way.

The man had been out drinking, came home and went to bed but his partner stayed up talking to her mother, who later left with the two children, he said. The woman attempted to wake the man because the smell of alcohol was making her sick.

When he woke he said, "Is this what you want" and put his right lower arm on her collar bone applying weight, Mr McMurdo said.

The man's forearm moved up to her neck area and while still applying weight he clenched his fist and put it up to her mouth pushing her jaw area. He then sat on her lower thighs and used his forearm to apply pressure to her stomach on top of the baby, hard enough for it to hurt.

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She clawed at him to get off and he ran outside knowing the police had been called and waited for them to arrive, he said.

The woman spent the night in hospital as a precaution but the baby was unaffected.

The man admitted the offending but said he could only remember parts of it and could not offer an explanation, Mr McMurdo said. Assault Simon Paul Gage, 38, was sentenced to 12 months' supervision for assaulting a female on August 7. Threatening Che Jerimia Eltringham, 19, was sentenced to three months' community detention, 200 hours' community work, 12 months' supervision and disqualified from driving for nine months for threatening to do grievous bodily harm, assaulting a female, possessing an offensive weapon, namely a knife, and driving recklessly on June 10. Theft Brittany Anne Flynn, 22, was sentenced to 100 hours' community work and ordered to pay $420 reparation for stealing hair products between August 27 and September 4. Burglary Dallas Alfred Paul, 45, was remanded to November 27 for sentence for burglary on September 30. Intentional damage Ethan James Hamilton, 18, apprentice builder, was sentenced to 80 hours' community work and ordered to pay reparation for intentionally damaging a stock gate at West Dome on August 25. Breach Leroy Alan Bevin, 37, of Bluff, was remanded to November 30 for sentence for breaching a protection order on August 10 and October 5 and being unlawfully in a building on October 5.

Santos Reno Kirk, 17, was remanded to December 11 for compliance for breaching community work on September 19. Driving Tongatuki Aaron Smith, 32, was sentenced to 250 hours' community work and disqualified from driving for 13 months for driving while suspended on August 11 and with a blood alcohol level of 134mg on April 6.

Lenny James Howley, 33, of Otautau, was fined $400 and disqualified for 12 months for driving while disqualified on August 11.

Braden Andrew Davis, 17, saw miller, of Winton, was fined $300 and disqualified for six months for driving with a sustained loss of traction at Winton on September 18.

Shane Barry Hodges, 41, dairy worker, of Heddon Bush, was fined $350 and disqualified for six months for driving with a sustained loss of traction at Wreys Bush on September 12.

Andrew James Haywood, 22, labourer, of Otautau, was sentenced to six months' community detention, 12 months' supervision and disqualified indefinitely for driving while incapable at Otautau on April 8. He was convicted and discharged for driving carelessly. Drink-driving Toni Marie Gorton, 19, of Lorneville, was fined $700 and disqualified from driving for eight months for driving with a breath alcohol level of 640mcg on October 8.

Tyler Isaac Spencer Birchfield, 648mcg. Sentenced to 100 hours' community work and disqualified for eight months.